Real Money

New Bipartisan Poll Reveals Strong Support For Cleaner Gasoline And Vehicles

Voters support EPA setting stricter air pollution standards to protect public health

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An overwhelming majority of voters supports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) setting stricter standards on gasoline and tighter emissions standards for cars, SUVs and trucks according to the American Lung Association's latest survey.

This bipartisan telephone survey of 800 registered voters, conducted during January 13-16, 2013, finds that nearly two-thirds of voters surveyed across the country support strengthening standards that limit sulfur in gasoline and tighten the limits on tailpipe emissions from new vehicles. These revised standards would reduce pollution from cars, trucks and SUVs, would protect public health and would create jobs by encouraging innovation.

"Voters clearly want clean air," said Paul G. Billings, Senior Vice President of the American Lung Association. "Implementing these standards on gasoline would remove as much pollution as taking 33 million cars off the road. If we can remove that much pollution, we can prevent tens of thousands of asthma attacks and save thousands of lives every year."

This survey finds voter support of stronger air pollution standards reaches across partisan, gender, racial, and geographic lines. Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and Public Opinion Strategies conducted the polling.

"This proposal is the most effective smog-fighting tool available, and cleaner gas would cost less than a penny per gallon," said Mr. Billings. "That's why automakers, states, health groups, and voters across all parties support this proposal."

Pollution from cars has a devastating effect on the health of families and children, shortening lives, worsening asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and even causing cancer. Also by keeping people healthier, families would miss fewer days at work and the US would save billions of dollars in lower health care costs.